Effects of a relaxation breathing exercise on fatigue in haemopoietic stem cell transplantation patients

AIM: Our purpose was to investigate the effect of a relaxation breathing exercise on fatigue in allogenic haemopoietic stem cell transplantation patients. BACKGROUND: Exercise is a promising approach in ameliorating the fatigue associated with cancer and its treatment. DESIGN: A randomized design with control, experimental groups being assessed pre- and postintervention. METHODS: Thirty-five patients were randomly selected, with 18 assigned to an exercise group and 17 to a control group. The exercise intervention lasted for 30 minutes every day for six weeks. It consisted of physical exercise combined with relaxation breathing exercise. Fatigue was measured by the revised version of the Piper Fatigue Scale. RESULTS: The exercise group had a greater decrease in fatigue than the control group. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that a relaxation breathing exercise would improve fatigue in allogenic haemopoietic stem cell transplantation patients. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: A relaxation breathing exercise by a nurse can improve fatigue in allogenic haemopoietic stem cell transplantation patients.